Covid-19/Coronavirus and Retreats

We know that the virus has quickly swept the world and made a huge impact on all of us.

We’re doing our best to navigate these rocky waters and best serve you all in the process.

We’re trying to be as flexible as possible with refunds, cancellations, and postponements. We recognize that many are in a tough position financially.

We also know that yoga and meditation continue to be the foundation that keeps so many of us healthy, happy, and grounded.

Some of our hosts have decided to offer online retreats and teacher trainings while everyone is in lockdown. If you’re interested, those are above :)

Sending you a big hug, wherever you are in the world.

Find the Best Yoga Retreats in India 2019

The homeland. Where it all started. Where yoga originated. The hustle bustle of constant honking, yelling, dust, cars zooming next to your face…

...it’s all in the crazy, yet beloved experience of India. If you have a deep connection with yoga, you must travel to this land at some point in your life. You must experience the vast expanse of the Himalayas. The depth to which yoga and spirituality have been woven into the very fabric of the culture.

The main areas that retreats are held in are Rishikesh, Goa, and Pune. Each has its own unique charm and qualities.

A lot of people love Rishikesh, where yoga was born, because they feel like they are getting a true essence of yoga simply by being there. But it's become quite the trend lately and so you have an interesting mix of yoga tradition and modern westerners on a mission to prove themselves.

Rishikesh is set in the north by the foothills of the Himalayas and can’t be beaten for a pure, crisp spiritual environment. The holy Ganga (Ganges River) flows directly through Rishikesh, bringing its grace with it.

Most people who want to get their certification in India will likely head to Rishikesh. It's easy to understand why, too. A yoga school in Rishikesh is as ubiquitous as a mozzie in the jungle.

The entire city is sacred, meaning that only vegetarian food is served and there is no alcohol. You will likely find humble accommodation in an ashram in Rishikesh, with nothing but the four cinderblock walls and basic plumbing for the toilet.

Some people are into that. It certainly contributes to your inner spiritual practices.

Goa and Pune have their wonderful qualities as well.

Goa is on the Southwest coast and is a more tropical environment. Many retreats there are held on the beach or near the beach.

Unlike Rishikesh, Goa has a much more comfortable and slow-paced vibe. You can find your accommodation on the beach for as little as $7 a night...

...and the vegetarian food is unreal.

Pune is also in the Southwest, but more toward the middle of the country, and not directly on the coast.

Physical Challenges

If you go to India, be prepared to have a few physical challenges along the way. Most Westerner’s stomachs aren’t so used to the Indian bugs and can have a bit of a hard time. Not to mention the cleanliness is not up to what most are used to.

But India is India, in its good and bad. One of the biggest lessons it teaches is surrender. Surrendering to the ever-changing, always shifting nature of life.

Spiritual Possibilities

In no other land has spirituality been explored in its depth like it has in India. Thanks to centuries of being protected from invasion due in large part to their mountainous geography and oceans on either side, their culture enjoyed many centuries of stability.

Because of that stability, they were able to dive to the very depths of the human potential and come out with methods for accessing that potential. Methods that are the yogic system.

Simply to be in this land is to be walking on the same terrain as so many incredible beings. To see how their work transformed the culture into a natural force of liberation. The way they sit, the way they eat, speak, approach water, everything.

The yoga schools in India offer daily yoga classes that not only move through the asanas and pranayama breathing techniques we all know and love of yoga, but they also offer a sort of sanctuary where you can truly deepen your yoga practice as it was originally intended.

Combine a meditation session with yoga at a yoga ashram. Let traditional hatha yoga stretch your body as well as your mind. Build strength with ashtanga vinyasa yoga. Do it all.

You may even find yourself considering a yoga teacher training course at your yoga school. (Don't worry. It happens to all of us.)

It is a place every yogi must experience.

The right retreat program will feel like a proper ashram, offering you all of the ancient wisdom of the mind, body, and spirit. Each day, take yourself deeper into your practice.

Ready to take a look at what we've got in store for you?

Popular Yoga Retreats in India

There are endless yoga retreats in India, making it a little difficult to know where to begin. Since yoga is such an important part of the culture in India, you will find many different types of yoga retreats to choose from. Here are some of the most popular:

Ayurveda Retreats

Imagine supplementing your daily yoga practice with the ayurvedic principles of nature intelligence. In an Ayurveda retreat, you can completely transform your body, mind, and soul with the help of the holistic ayurvedic practise. Join a retreat center or yoga ashram that offers Ayurvedic treatments as a part of their program. Many of these places will serve vegetarian meals that adhere to the Ayurvedic principles. Immerse yourself in the holistic yogic lifestyle for a truly healing experience.

If you’re looking for a place that offers yoga and meditation together, then a yoga meditation retreat may be the perfect fit for you. Just like you practice yoga, with the guidance of knowledgeable teachers, you will have the opportunity to expand your meditation practice, as well. Daily yoga and meditation sessions are a part of the entire Indian culture, so it will be easy to find a retreat center that includes both. If you take your retreat to Rishikesh, then you will be able to take your meditation sessions to the Holy River Ganges. Talk about transcendental!

India knows how to do wellness in body, mind, and spirit. Yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda is built into the very fabrics of their cultures. The yogic lifestyle is the Indian lifestyle. So no matter where you go in India, it's possible to make it into a wellness retreat. Practice yoga daily, meditate daily, get Ayurvedic treatments, explore the Holy River Ganges or hike the Himalayas, and just let yourself heal completely during your yoga holiday. *That* is what wellness is all about.

Looking for the opportunity to clean yourself up, from the inside-out? Well, you’re not the only one. Detox retreats in India are pretty popular. In India, yoga is a lifestyle and a detox retreat seriously focuses on this lifestyle as a means of cutting out all that toxic gunk you’ve been carrying around with you.

Naturally, spiritual retreats are pretty popular in India. India basically oozes with spiritual growth opportunities and so many yogis flock to the motherland to achieve just that. Take your spiritual practice to the peaks of the Himalayas and immerse yourself in the daily life of the local culture. Experience their healing activities in day-to-day life. Absorb the yoga philosophy in everything that you do, whether it is in the vegetarian food that you eat or the people that you serve while you're there. Nourish both your body and your soul during your yoga holidays in India.

India is by far one of the cheapest countries to offer yoga retreats. So no matter what you’re looking for, you will likely find it within a very affordable price range. Even if you don't book a yoga retreat in India, you could find a resort or hotel for your own yoga holidays. Search for a yoga center that offers daily yoga classes or a hotel with an in-house yoga teacher. India serves primarily vegetarian meals so no matter where you end up, you will be doing it at a low cost and with lots of yoga-centered options.

Wellness Retreats in Rishikesh

The Rishikesh yoga culture is strong, so everything you do in this area will likely involve yoga. Perhaps a slow practice, such as hatha yoga, will be paired with an ayurvedic diet. Or maybe it will be a yoga and meditation retreat, with a focus on inner wellness and vitality. You will find plenty of retreats to choose from, each supporting overall wellness.

Top Yoga Retreats in India

If you want an authentic experience of Rishikesh, with all of the chaos included, then a cultural retreat in Rishikesh is the way to go. This 7-day yoga and meditation retreat offers a cultural immersion into the yoga capital of the world. The retreat center will organize a white-water rafting trip for you, as well as treks to the peaks of the mountains and down to beautiful waterfalls. And the food scene in Rishikesh is certainly worth exploring. For a quick and dirty (very dirty) view of Rishikesh, this is the perfect retreat for you.

Silence can change the personality of an individual. Through silence, a person controls anger and speech. One grows stronger through greater determination and self-confidence. Before beginning the days of silence, you will get a detailed Wellness Consultation regarding your health, food preferences, specific daily routines and requirements, preferred meal timings etc. The retreat will be customized to meet your comfort levels and a structured agenda will be provided based on your choice of activities You will be provided a handbook in which they can write down their thoughts and emotions during your period of silence. It is a truly life-changing experience.

This retreat is a wonderful life-changing experience for yoga students. Immerse yourself fully in this transformational retreat and dive into the depth of your true being for an integral transformation. You'll get the wonderful opportunity to be guided on your yogic journey by a renowned yoga master from India. We will start in Rishikesh and spend the majority of our time there. From Rishikesh, we will travel to go camping for one night and then, we will go on a tour of the Taj Mahal and India Gate before dropping you at the airport on Day 15. The retreat center provides bright and quiet single and shared rooms, all with their own luminous bathroom. You will also be able to relax in the spacious yoga and meditation hall, and yoga practices on the beach of river Ganga are just awesome.

In this 28-day program, you will be taken to the deep levels of the mind and soul. The course will start with the learning of different meditation techniques and Sadhanas. The program is designed in such a way that everyone will have a deep understanding of meditation, and will be able to choose the sadhana path after this course.

Practicing yoga and meditation can always help you to heal your body from within and provide you with inner strength. This can make it easier for you to face the various challenges in life and have a positive attitude at all times. When you chose to practice yoga and meditation in the pristine environment of the Himalayas, such benefits are multiplied several times. At our retreat in the Himalayas, you can do just that and focus on improving your mind, body and soul to a great extent. We are one of the finest holiday yoga retreats in Rishikesh and we can offer you a spiritual retreat experience that you will cherish for a long time. When you choose to be a part of a program that allows you to learn yoga and trekking in the Himalayas, you can literally get rid of all your negative emotions and heal yourself from within.

This retreat is designed for detoxification and rejuvenation. Join your hosts during an awakening journey where you will receive personal attention and enjoy the most therapeutic and rejuvenating experience possible during your stay in an organic farm in Kerala. During this retreat, you will enjoy daily yoga classes, attend fire rituals, practice pranayama and meditation sessions and private healing sessions. You will enjoy an elephant farm visit, temples, and boat trips, all surrounded by a highly energized purified atmosphere.

Imagine a week on the spiritual city Rishikesh The world capital of Yoga. A chance to deepen and renew your yoga practice, through daily vinyasa flow classes and Hatha yoga Classes. Including meditation and the real philosophy of yoga. Eat nourishing vegetarian food and learn more about healthy living and nutrition. Get to experience beautiful ganga beaches, try out yoga with the breeze of holy river ganga, learn about Indian culture and watch the sunrise from the top of a mountain. It’s happening – and we’d love for you to be a part of it.

Yoga and dance are ancient spiritual paths to self-realization, to live in wholeness, access our innate wisdom and happiness. There is a natural synergy between the two disciplines. Throughout history they've endlessly inspired and influenced the other, ultimately they are one. The practices and studies in this eleven-day immersion into goddess are based on the teachings of non-dual Tantra of Shiva/Shakti and Shaktism, and the Indian classical dance of the Bharata Natyam style, of the Thanjavur lineage. We'll explore the different aspects of Devi Shakti (energy/power), through goddesses: Kali, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati, exploring sculpture-like posture, fluid asana and dance movement, pranayama, mudra, mantras, mythology, symbolism, signature qualities of each goddess, mediation, and yantra.

During the retreat, you will be staying in boutique accommodation surrounded by a waterfall, greenery, and strong mountains. The ashram is in connection with nature, overhanging trees, and native birds. You will enjoy spectacular mountain views everywhere you look. Among the precious gifts of this land are its pristine forestry, virgin air, and crystal water flowing directly from the Himalaya’s snow-capped peaks. From the accommodation one can trek deep into the Himalayas above. From there, you can go on a mesmerizing journey into the Dhauladhar Range of the Himalaya. This deeply transformative yoga retreat uses a therapeutic approach to balance all areas of your mind, body, and spirit by allowing you to experience not only Ashtanga, Sivananda and Hatha Yoga (the path of harmonizing and purifying the body systems), but also Kundalini Yoga (royal yoga) and meditation.

FAQ

How does yoga in the US differ from yoga in India?

In the US, yoga has become an exercise practice for young, middle-class, educated women (mostly). Of course, other demographics also practice yoga, but it seems that this group has claimed yoga and turned it into a popular exercise regimen that trims you down and tones you up.

As a result, yoga has become an entire industry where clothing is marketed for this specific demographic, yoga materials (mats, blocks, straps, etc) have been commercialized toward this particular demographic, and yoga studios have turned into little boutiques that also happen to offer yoga, bytheway.

In India, yoga is still what it had always intended to be: a lifestyle. People don’t practice yoga because it’s trendy or because it can make you skinny. They practice yoga, both on the mat and off because it is a way of life. Though the younger generations are more easily influenced by western culture, and so may only stick to the asanas of yoga in their practice, it isn’t quite the obsessions like it is in the US...yet.

Is it safe for single female travelers in India?

India is notoriously dangerous for women. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go, though! That simply means that you need to plan your trip with this fact in mind. Use the buddy system, rely on your retreat centers for the best transportation advice, and always keep your wits about you.

That being said, many young women travel through India each year without a problem. Making good choices is the most important part of staying safe.

I want to have a yoga meditation holiday; can I do that in India?

Yes! India has some of the best yoga and meditation workshops and courses in the world. You can easily find an ashram that will provide the perfect sanctuary to deepen your meditation practice.

Is there a site that aggregates yoga retreats by date and location?

You’re on it, baby :) You can completely customize your search not only by date and location, but also by yoga style, retreat style, and price range. So go ahead and search for literally the perfect retreat for you.

How can I find good yoga retreats and Ashrams around the world?

It can be a bit difficult finding a reputable yoga school or ashram without actually having been yourself. That’s exactly why we started Book Retreats. We wanted to bring you reputable retreats from around the world that you know you can count on. So go ahead and search our database for the perfect retreat.

Secure payments

For Guests

For Hosts

Who are we?

We are a team of yogis who came together to put our energy into making the world a better place by connecting you with life-changing yoga retreats, meditation retreats, wellness retreats, and yoga teacher trainings. We are all about spreading love!

Why choose us?

We aren't just a business, we are family. When you book with us, you can be sure that your experience will be full of love, security, understanding, and joy every step of the way. From helping you find the perfect retreat to taking care of you when things go wrong, we treat you like family.